Duffy: We deserved three points at Dumbarton

Manager Jim Duffy saw his side held to a goalless draw by Dumbarton on the opening day of the Ladbrokes Championship season but felt their efforts merited maximum points.

 

Reflecting on the 90 minutes, he said:

“It was always going to be a very difficult match, the first day away to Dumbarton, but I think we deserved all three points really.

“We tried to win the game from the first minute to the last minute but we weren’t really as composed and sharp as we would have liked to have been in the final third.

“Defensively, I thought we were very good and the midfield worked very hard to try and get on the ball.”

The Cappielow gaffer conceded that although an away draw is never a result to be sniffed at in the Championship, the overall feeling was one of disappoinment:

“It was awkward game and not a bad point, not the worst result, although we’re disappointed not to get all three. Our boys were a bit disappointed to win the game.

“They tried to win the game. We had more opportunities, crosses into the box, and shots at goal, but we lacked that cutting edge today. That was the most disappointing thing.

Morton were not without their chances. Sons shot-stopper Scott Gallacher made a number of important saves to prevent the visitors from making the breakthrough.

This was particulary the case in the final 20 minutes, and Duffy praised his side for the positive intent that saw them push for the win right up until the full-time whistle.

“We tried to win it. We didn’t sit back. Normally, with 15 or 20 minutes to go, the away team would probably say: ‘0-0 will do us, this is a good point for us.’

“The attitude of the players was terrific; the willingness to try and win the game was there – but we just lacked that bit of quality in the final third.

“That’s always going to be the key in any game of football. We had a couple of chances late in the game we thought could be the one, but it just didn’t fall for us.

Image: Gary Bradley